Poor defence
Sir: The Revd Anthony Symondson SJ states that he initiated a process of reform at the Converts' Aid Society during the time in which he acted as secretary, 1966-8 (Letters, 4 April). Nevertheless, he contin- ued to pay lavish bills for entertainment at London clubs, and the AGM ceased to be held at the Dorchester only when the hotel closed for refurbishment. Nor, during his time, was any attempt made to reform the irregular 'finance committee' which was making decisions in defiance of the Charity Commissioners' expressed opinion. Fur- ther, Mr Symondson fails to mention that though the Charity Commissioners had warned the society in 1982-83 of the con- flict of interest involved in trustees receiv- ing payment for their work for the Society, Captain Peter Railing was, during his time as secretary, once more appointed as trea- surer, Mr Symondson quotes the Noble Lowndes report, commissioned by the Car- dinal's enquiry. As a result of this, the enquiry described Captain Railing's perfor- mance as 'satisfactory' and Mr Symondson describes the report as 'favourable' to him. In fact, the report describes his perfor- mance as 'not outrageously poor', and places it in the bottom 30 per cent of pen- sion funds. In fact, no self-respecting finan- cial adviser would expect to underperform the FTA Index, as he nearly always did.
Mr Symondson's defence of this state of affairs does him little credit.
William Oddie
6 Sunningwell Road, Oxford
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